Lesbian and bisexual girls at risk for tobacco use
Revealed by recent study

A recent study led by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital found that lesbian and bisexual girls may be at a higher risk of tobacco use than other youths. The study appeared in the April issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Using data from participants in the "Growing Up Today Study"—an ongoing national health study of more than 16,000 adolescents in the United States—researchers found that lesbian and bisexual girls ages 12 to 17 were almost 10 times more likely to say they smoke weekly compared to heterosexual girls of the same age. Almost 40 percent of lesbian and bisexual girls reported that they smoked weekly compared to only 6 percent of heterosexual girls who reported smoking weekly.

In addition, lesbian and bisexual girls were about 60 percent more likely than heterosexual girls to say they would be willing to use tobacco promotional merchandise such as hats, shirts and bags. Gay and bisexual boys in the study were not more likely to smoke compared to heterosexual boys.

"We were surprised by the very high rates of smoking by lesbian and bisexual teenage girls," says lead author S. Bryn Austin, ScD, a Children's researcher. "Antigay stigma and harassment, rejection from family, friends, peers, and sometimes even physical violence can create a hostile environment for many young people coming to terms with their sexual orientation. This combined with the tobacco industry's targeted marketing to lesbian and gay communities is putting these girls in harm's way. We're concerned they may be slipping under the radar screen when it comes to tobacco prevention efforts in schools and communities. More needs to be done to protect them and to address the social issues that may lead to their increased tobacco use." Researchers also found that given the frequency of smoking, and high scores on the tobacco dependence index, it is unlikely that the lesbian and bisexual girls in the study were experimental or casual smokers. Furthermore, it is likely that these girls are addicted to nicotine or are moving in that direction.